The Artificial Intelligence Task Force crafted a proposed statement for consideration by senior leadership. This is a suggested general statement to faculty, students, and staff about the College’s current stance on AI and our approach to AI moving forward this year:
Ringling College of Art and Design is dedicated to the development of emerging artists, equipping them with a foundation to shape and communicate their unique voice throughout their lifetime. We appreciate that this commitment transcends beyond traditional paradigms, to encompass a world progressively influenced by technology and, specifically, the transformative power of artificial intelligence.
Our mission is not only to educate students in fundamental art and design skills; it is also about exploring and understanding the theoretical, philosophical, and legal processes that underlie the crafting of artistic voices. Ignoring AI, a technology poised to effect seismic shifts in human interactions, would be counterintuitive to our purpose. This necessity to address AI’s impact on our pedagogy stems not just from the opportunities it presents, but also the challenges it creates.
We acknowledge the ethical conundrums tied to AI's evolution, particularly those concerning the compilation of datasets for prominent AI tools. Many artists' works were used without consent in the training of some of these models, and we recognize the detrimental effect this has on our artist community. Alongside these ethical dilemmas are serious legal questions that cannot be ignored. As an institution, we acknowledge these challenges and commit to addressing them with due diligence and integrity.
The AI revolution is extensive, impacting not only image generation but also a host of other sectors our students engage in. These include writing, data analysis, presentation creation, graphic design, game design, animation, storytelling, experience design, video creation and editing, and computer coding, among others. It is clear that AI, with its current trajectory, will significantly impact every program at Ringling College in the near future.
The flexibility of our curriculum permits each major and its faculty to independently determine the role AI tools will play in their teaching and learning. We believe this freedom will allow our majors to harness AI's potential in an ethical and responsible way according to their unique educational needs.
Our exploration of AI extends beyond its creative applications to its potential as a teaching tool. For technical and complex subjects, AI can be an invaluable asset for enhancing student understanding. As such, we are keen to uncover its potential to improve educational outcomes across various courses, both within the Liberal Arts and studio curricula.
Ringling College of Art and Design must reckon honestly and proactively with AI. We acknowledge the concerns and are committed to addressing them as we venture into this new frontier. We believe this journey will serve our mission of providing a comprehensive educational experience that equips our students to navigate and thrive in a dynamically evolving world.